Combined Yoga Strap and Mat

ABSTRACT

A combined yoga exercise mat and yoga exercise strap are provided which are movable to: (a) a hanging position in which the yoga exercise strap is attached to the yoga exercise mat to facilitate hanging the yoga exercise mat for washing, air drying and storage, to (b) a carrying position in which the yoga exercise mat is rolled and the yoga exercise strap is positioned about and secures the rolled yoga exercise mat and in which the yoga exercise strap can be positioned on a shoulder of a person to help carry the rolled yoga exercise mat, and to (c) an exercise position in which the yoga exercise strap is detached from the yoga exercise mat so that a person can perform yoga exercises with the yoga exercise strap and on the yoga exercise mat.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of patent application Ser. No. 12/462,584 filed Aug. 5, 2009 which is based upon priority provisional patent application No. 61/137,944 filed Aug. 5, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined yoga strap and exercise mat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There is currently no method of hanging an exercise mat for cleaning, storage or air drying. Heretofore, people would roll up their sweaty yoga mats after class for storage and hand carry them, sometimes in a bag to and from their yoga, Pilates, or stretching classes and then unroll it for use again.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a combined yoga strap and mat, which overcomes most, if not all of the preceding problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved yoga strap and mat are provided which are attractive, helpful, economical and effective.

The combined yoga strap and mat comprises a yoga exercise mat and a yoga exercise strap. Fastening means can be provided for detachably attaching the yoga exercise strap to the yoga exercise mast. The fastening means can comprise one attachment device connected to the yoga exercise strap and another attachment device connected to the yoga exercise mat. The attachment devices can be attachable to and detachable from each other. Advantageously, the yoga exercise mat and yoga exercise strap are movable to: (a) a hanging position in which the yoga exercise strap is attached to the yoga exercise mat to facilitate hanging the yoga exercise mat for washing, air drying and storage, to (b) a carrying position in which the yoga exercise mat is rolled and the yoga exercise strap is positioned about and secures the rolled yoga exercise mat and in which the yoga exercise strap can be positioned on a shoulder of a person to help early the rolled yoga exercise mat, and to (c) an exercise position in which the yoga exercise strap is detached from the yoga exercise mat so that a person can perform yoga exercises with the yoga exercise strap and on the yoga exercise mat.

The fastening means of the combined yoga strap and mat can comprise: hook and loop material, mating snaps, magnet and magnetic material, hook and eye, Velcro-type fasteners, or one or more other interlocking mechanisms. Desirably, the fastening means includes another attachment device mounted to the yoga exercise mat near at least one end thereof.

The yoga exercise strap can consists only of a single unitary adjustable yoga exercise strap for attaching to the yoga exercise mat. Preferably, the yoga exercise strap includes a locking mechanism so that when pressure is applied during a yoga exercise, the yoga strap will not slip or unintentionally lengthen. In the illustrated form, the yoga exercise strap has a female clip attached to one end of the yoga exercise strap and a female clip attached to the other end of the yoga exercise strap for detachably attaching to the male clip when the yoga exercise strap is positioned about the rolled yoga exercise mat in the carrying position. The yoga exercise strap can have a buckle and a loop positioned between the male and female clips. The loop can provide a shoulder strap when the yoga exercise strap is in the carrying position.

The yoga exercise mat can have a visible centerline, cross or other yoga exercise alignment indicia that extends along the center and at least partially across the yoga exercise mat to assist the user to align and center themself over the yoga exercise mat while doing or performing yoga poses, yoga exercises or other exercises.

According to other teachings of the present invention, the yoga strap provides an attachable/detachable strap for hanging the mat for air drying, washing or storage. The yoga exercise strap can also be used to keep the yoga exercise mat securely rolled and easily carried as a shoulder strap or detached from yoga exercise mat and used as a yoga exercise strap.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following detailed descriptions and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the yoga exercise strap of the combined yoga strap and mat according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the yoga exercise strap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the yoga exercise strap drawn tight around a rolled up yoga exercise mat.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the yoga exercise mat unrolled and with the yoga exercise strap attached and hanging on a shower head.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a person carrying the combined yoga exercise strap and yoga mat.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of a person using the yoga exercise strap in a yoga exercise (pose).

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a person using the yoga exercise strap in another yoga exercise.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of a person using the yoga exercise strap in still another yoga exercise.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the yoga exercise mat and yoga exercise strap and shows the matting hook or loop material on the yoga exercise strap and on the yoga exercise mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description and explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best modes for practicing the invention.

In the attached figures there is illustrated a specially designed yoga exercise strap that attaches/detaches directly to a yoga exercise mat and can be used to keep the mat closed, carried over the shoulder and facilitates hanging of the yoga exercise mat in the shower for washing/air drying/storage, and which also can be used separately as a yoga exercise strap.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one end 8 of a yoga exercise strap 10 is fixed to a female clip 14. Fastening means 6 comprising connecting means, such as hook or loop material, are fixed on the end 8 of the yoga exercise strap 10 to provide a yoga exercise mat-attachment device 7 to attach the yoga exercise strap to a yoga strap-attachment device 26 (FIG. 9) on a yoga exercise mat 28. The yoga exercise strap 10 extends through one slot 18 of a double slot buckle 20 and then through the other slot 22 of the buckle 20 and then to a male clip 24 which is slidably received on the yoga exercise strap 10. The yoga exercise strap 10 then extends to the slot 22 and is fixed to the buckle 20 thereby forming a loop 30. With this construction, the size of the loop can be adjusted.

The yoga exercise mat-attachment device on the yoga exercise strap in an area adjacent the female clip 14 has a VELCRO™ type patch 16 for mating with the yoga strap-attachment device comprising a VELCRO™ type patch or strip 26 on the yoga exercise mat 28 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. However, fastening means comprising the yoga-exercise mat-attachment device and the yoga strap-attachment device do not need to be VELCRO™; they may be other attaching devices.

The male clip can be inserted into the female clip after the loop is pulled tight around a rolled up mat as shown in FIG. 4 and a loop 30 between the fixed male and female clips forms a shoulder strap 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The significant features of the combined yoga exercise strap 10 and yoga exercise mat 28 are the following:

An attachable/detachable strap that can attach directly to the yoga exercise mat 28 (it can be attached by any attaching devices, such as Velcro type fasteners, mating snaps, magnets and magnetic material, hook and eye etc.) and used as a shoulder carrying strap. See FIG. 3.

The yoga exercise strap 10 is adjustable in length. Because the yoga exercise strap 10 attaches directly to the yoga exercise mat 28, it can be used to hang the yoga exercise mat for ease of washing, air drying, or storage as shown in FIG. 4, the way that the slide buckle 22 is positioned enables one to hang the yoga exercise mat from a shower head 32 in a fixed position which will not slide off the shower head.

When the yoga exercise strap is removed from the yoga exercise mat it can be used as an exercise strap. See FIGS. 6, 7 and S. The yoga exercise strap 10 has the buckle 22 so it can be an adjustable closed loop for the purpose of making it an adjustable exercise strap.

The yoga exercise strap can be made from any material to accomplish its purpose and the yoga exercise mat can be made from any material to accomplish its purpose.

The combined yoga exercise strap and yoga exercise mat has several advantages described below:

When people do yoga, they tend to sweat a lot which makes the yoga exercise mat wet with perspiration. At the end of the class, they roll up their yoga exercise mat and tie it into this roll or place it into a carrying bag. Unfortunately, this does not allow the yoga exercise mat to dry out and facilitates bacteria growth which makes the yoga exercise mat dirty and smelly and overall unhygienic.

When a user does wash their yoga exercise mats, the yoga exercise mats tend to be lying down on a surface which also makes it difficult for the mat to thoroughly dry.

Applicant's yoga exercise strap enables you to hang the yoga exercise mat to allow air to circulate around the entire yoga exercise mat to fully air dry it and resist the growth of bacteria and mildew. It also facilitates easier washing by being able to hang it in the shower. The ability to hang the yoga exercise mat also facilitates storage. Currently in a health club or studio where many yoga exercise mats are being stored, they are stored in a rolled up state which makes them bulky and takes up a lot of area. Being able to hang the yoga exercise mats stacked on a peg unrolled will facilitate less area required for storage.

Additionally, the current yoga straps used in performing exercise are generally made with two metal circles or D shape figures through which the other end of the strap is woven. The problem with this construction is that when you apply outward pressure on the closed strap during an exercise the strap will often slip with those buckles causing it to enlarge and defeating the purpose of the buckled strap.

Applicants yoga exercise strap 10 has a locking mechanism so that when pressure is applied during exercise, the yoga exercise strap 10 will not slip and lengthen unintentionally.

Applicant's yoga exercise straps accommodates yoga exercises and other exercises and allows deeper stretches and more difficult yoga poses, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The yoga exercise mat can have a longitudinal visible centerline 34 which can appear as a vertical or upright line down the middle of the yoga exercise mat when the yoga exercise mat is held upright, lengthwise and vertical. A transverse horizontal lateral shorter alignment line 36 can be perpendicular to the centerline. The longitudinal centerline and traverse alignment line can cooperate with each other to provide yoga exercise alignment indicia (guiding indicia), which in the illustrative embodiment can comprise cross-shaped alignment stripes that are sewn, printed, painted, glued or otherwise attached to one or both sides of the yoga exercise mat. The yoga exercise alignment indicia can extend fully or partially across and along the center of the yoga exercise mat. The yoga exercise alignment indicia can visually assist the user to align and center themself over the longitudinal and lateral center of the yoga exercise mat while doing or performing yoga poses, yoga exercise or other exercises.

The yoga exercise mat with the 3 in 1 yoga exercise strap is multipurpose. The yoga exercise strap is a shoulder carrying strap so one does not have to buy a separate strap or bag for portability. Additionally, the yoga exercise strap detaches from the yoga exercise mat and becomes a yoga exercise strap. This allows the practitioner to perform more difficult yoga poses and deeper stretches for a more effective workout. The yoga exercise strap also is adjustable in length and has a locking buckle so if pressure is applied on the inside of the yoga exercise strap, the yoga exercise strap will not slip.

The yoga exercise mat can be reversible with black on one side and blue on the other with center lines to help with proper body alignment when performing yoga exercise poses.

The combined yoga mat and strap features a 3 in 1 yoga exercise strap that provides three functions: (1) an attachable/detachable shoulder strap; (2) hanging strap to facilitate washing or air drying; and (3) exercise strap to help with stretching and improve performance.

The yoga exercise mat has a center line drawn down the middle of both sides of the yoga exercise mat with a perpendicular line indicating the middle of the mat. The purpose of the lines is to help ensure proper body alignment.

The combined yoga strap and mat comprises an exercise mat and an exercise strap. Fastening means can be provided for detachably attaching the exercise strap to the exercise mat. The fastening means can comprise one attachment device connected to the exercise strap and another attachment device connected to the exercise mat. The attachment devices can be attachable to and detachable from each other. Advantageously, the exercise mat and exercise strap being movable to: (a) a hanging position in which the exercise strap is attached to the exercise mat to facilitate hanging the exercise mat for washing, air drying and storage, to (b) a carrying position in which the exercise mat is rolled and the exercise strap is positioned about and secures the rolled yoga exercise mat and in which the yoga exercise strap can be positioned on a shoulder of a person to help carry the rolled yoga exercise mat, and to (c) an exercise position in which the exercise strap is detached from the yoga exercise mat so that a person can perform yoga poses, yoga exercises or other exercises with the exercise strap and on the exercise mat.

The fastening means of the combined yoga strap and mat can comprise: hook and loop material, mating snaps, magnet and magnetic material, hook and eye, Velcro-type fasteners, and/or one or more interlocking mechanisms. Desirably, the fastening means includes another attachment device mounted to the exercise mat near at least one end thereof.

The exercise strap can consists only of a single unitary adjustable yoga exercise strap for attaching to the exercise mat. Preferably, the exercise strap includes a locking mechanism so that when pressure is applied during a yoga pose, yoga exercise or other exercise, the exercise strap will not slip or unintentionally lengthen, in the preferred embodiment, the exercise strap has a female clip attached to one end of the yoga exercise strap and a female clip attached to another end of the exercise strap for detachably attaching to the male clip when the exercise strap is positioned about the rolled exercise mat in the carrying position, The exercise strap can have a buckle and a loop positioned between said male and female clips. The loop provides a shoulder strap when the exercise strap is in the carrying position.

The exercise mat can have a visible centerline or other alignment indicia to assist the user to align and/or center themself over the exercise mat while doing or performing yoga poses, yoga exercises or other exercises.

According to other teachings of the present invention, the yoga exercise strap provides an attachable/detachable strap for hanging the mat for air drying, washing or storage. The yoga exercise strap can also be used to keep the yoga exercise mat securely rolled and easily carried as a shoulder strap or detached from yoga exercise mat and used for yoga posses, yoga exercise or other exercises.

Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts, components, and/or method steps, as well as other uses, shapes, construction, material and design of the yoga exercise strap and yoga exercise mat can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of this invention. 

1: A combined yoga strap and mat, comprising: a yoga exercise mat; a yoga exercise strap; fastening means for detachably attaching said yoga exercise strap to said yoga exercise mat, said fastening means comprising one attachment device connected to said yoga exercise strap and another attachment device connected to said yoga exercise mat, said attachment devices being attachable to and detachable from each other; and said yoga exercise mat and yoga exercise strap being movable to a hanging position in which the yoga exercise strap is attached to the yoga exercise mat to facilitate hanging the yoga exercise mat for washing, air drying and storage, to a carrying position in which the yoga exercise mat is rolled and the yoga exercise strap is positioned about and secures the rolled yoga exercise mat and in which the yoga exercise strap can be positioned on a shoulder of a person to help carry the rolled yoga exercise mat, and to an exercise position in which the yoga exercise strap is detached from the yoga exercise mat so that a person can perform yoga exercises with the yoga exercise strap and on the yoga exercise mat. 2: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 including yoga exercise alignment indicia extending at least partially along the yoga exercise mat for assisting the user to align and center themself over the yoga exercise mat while performing yoga exercises. 3: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 wherein said fastening means is selected from the group consisting of: hook and loop material, mating snaps, magnet and magnetic material, hook and eye, Velcro-type fasteners, and an interlocking mechanism. 4: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 Wherein said fastening means comprising said another attachment device is mounted to said yoga exercise mat near at least one end thereof. 5: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 Wherein said yoga exercise strap consists only of a single unitary adjustable yoga exercise strap for attaching to said yoga exercise mat. 6: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 wherein said yoga exercise strap includes a locking mechanism so that When pressure is applied during a yoga exercise, the yoga strap will not slip or unintentionally lengthen. 7: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 1 wherein: said yoga exercise strap has a. female clip attached to one end of said yoga exercise strap and a female clip attached to another end of said yoga exercise strap for detachably attaching to said male clip when said yoga exercise strap is positioned about the rolled yoga exercise mat in the carrying position; said yoga exercise strap has a buckle and a loop positioned between said male and female clips; and said loop provides a shoulder strap when said yoga exercise strap is in the carrying position. 8: A combined yoga strap and mat, comprising: an exercise mat; an exercise strap; fastening means for detachably attaching said exercise strap to said exercise mat, said fastening means comprising one attachment device connected to said exercise strap and another attachment device connected to said exercise mat, said attachment devices being attachable to and detachable from each other; and said exercise mat and exercise strap being movable to a hanging position in which the exercise strap is attached to the exercise mat to facilitate hanging the exercise mat for washing, air drying and storage, to a carrying position in which the exercise mat is rolled and the exercise strap is positioned about and secures the exercise mat in the rolled position and in which the exercise strap can be positioned on a shoulder of a person to help carry the rolled exercise mat, and to an exercise position in which the exercise strap is detached from the yoga exercise mat so that a person can perform yoga poses, yoga exercises and other exercises with the exercise strap and on the exercise mat. 9: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 including exercise alignment indicia on the exercise mat for assisting the user to align and center themself over the exercise mat while performing yoga poses, yoga exercises or other exercises. 10: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 wherein said fastening means is selected from the group consisting of: hook and loop material, mating snaps, magnet and magnetic material, hook and eye, Velcro-type fasteners, and an interlocking mechanism. 11: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 wherein said mating fastening means comprising said another attachment device is mounted to said yoga exercise mat near at least one end thereof. 12: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 wherein said yoga exercise strap consists only of a single unitary adjustable exercise strap for attaching to said exercise mat. 13: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 wherein said exercise strap includes a locking mechanism so that when pressure is applied during an exercise, the exercise strap will not slip or unintentionally lengthen. 14: The combined yoga strap and mat of claim 8 wherein: said exercise strap has a female clip attached to one end of said exercise strap and a female clip attached to another end of said exercise strap for detachably attaching to said male clip when said exercise strap is positioned about the rolled exercise mat in the carrying position; said exercise mat has a buckle and a loop positioned between said male and female clips; and said loop provides a shoulder strap when said exercise strap is in the carrying position. 